Nov 164 min read

The Evolution of School Through the Lens of the Class of 1974

By Ariel Lee 11/6/2024

Students gather beneath the large oak tree in the middle of the quad, while others smoke in designated areas. High-pitched rotary dial phones, the only form of technology present on campus, ring in the distance. Although this scene seems incredibly different from Chargers’ lives today, it scene was very common at the school in the 1970s.

Last spring, class of 1974 organizer Tere Johnson attended the school’s 50th anniversary celebration and wanted to organize a school tour for the entire class of 1974. The reunion took place on Sept 28 and is the first of its kind at the school. However, Meg Walsh, Activities Director, mentioned that she would like to host more in the future if it fits into the school schedule.

The school faculty, ASB and other parent volunteers worked hard to prepare for the reunion. Bolt, the mascot, was present to welcome the class of 1974 in the gym, along with a performance from the cheer team. Then, students and staff showed the alumni around the school, touring the facilities and classrooms. Alumni were excited to see what changed and what remained the same; for example, Walsh mentioned that the music room is still the same as it was in 1974, while the library and CRC underwent many changes. Not only did the facilities change, but the material and teaching methods have also been transformed. The class of 1974 had more hands-on classes than the new generation, according to the alumni.

“I had a lot of fun performing for the class of 1974, and I learned a lot about the different lives students experienced in the ‘70s. For example, the alumni talked about how they used to have smoking sections for students and teachers, as it was common for even high schoolers to smoke cigarettes. The alumni were also able to buy many types of snacks, differing from our regular meal options. Their stories reminded me of the high school experience we see in movies and TV shows set in the ‘70s and ‘80s.” Sophomore Thea Cuboni, who is part of Junior Varsity cheer, said.

Today, technology is an important part of students’ daily lives; they use it to complete assignments, socialize and play games. However, for the class of ‘74, technology use was very different. The alumni used standard rotary phones, typewriters and chalkboards rather than digital projectors, smartphones and computers. Even the opportunities were different. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, just over 62% of California high school students today attend college after graduation, while in the 70s, only 48% of students were enrolled in a college. However, it was much more common for students to obtain jobs even without a college degree in the ‘70s.

“My mom went to high school in the United States, and based on what she has told me, high school seems a lot more difficult now. With the increase in technology, such as cell phone use, it seems like there is less of a community among the students,” Junior Remy Steinert said.

Johnson describes his high school experience in the ‘70s as positive; he explained how he established solid friendships that continue to this day. However, he regrets lacking courage to challenge himself to do more.

“If I could go back, knowing what I know now, I would have tried harder in academics, sports and social situations, asking for help when needed and catching all of my missed opportunities. One life lesson I would like to leave current students with is: when a potentially life-changing opportunity comes up, have the courage to walk through the door and take advantage of it,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes that the school has changed for the better because while the buildings themselves are similar, the students today appear much more focused on their future. He describes how students from his time at the school tended to embody a “live for today” mentality, while in the present, students plan more strategically.

“Although I was not at the reunion, I attended school here during the ‘70s. My overall experience was great; I took fun classes like Journalism, I had amazing teachers, I was a part of multiple sports and I had a job after school. Today, the school’s students have more of a academic focus, so there is a higher standard in that regard. However, the students are missing out on the broader array of classes that we used to offer such as vocational classes. My biggest piece of advice for current students is to do more than academics; join clubs, do sports, be in Speech and Debate or Drama—experience more than sitting in the classroom. As for our seniors, I encourage them to just relax now as they will all get into college and have a good time,” Rob Miller, Social Studies Department, said.

Many of the alumni who attended the reunion have mentioned that it was a great success and that they felt nostalgia while visiting their old high school again. Looking into the future, maybe this reunion will inspire this year’s graduating seniors to return to a brand new campus in 50 years.

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